FBI Quietly Builds Cooperation with China and Russia: What Is Behind It?
Amid the geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and China and Russia, an unusual development has emerged from Uncle Sam’s law enforcement agency. The FBI under Director Kash Patel is said to have begun strengthening cooperation with Beijing and Moscow to tackle transnational crime.
Patel is said to have made direct approaches to Chinese security officials. In November 2025, he became the first FBI director to visit China since 2016.
He then returned to China in July 2026 to meet China’s Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong. Relations between the two countries are now beginning to be institutionalised through four working groups dealing with cyber fraud, violent crimes against children, narcotics eradication, and fugitive hunting.
Officials from China’s Ministry of Public Security are also said to make regular visits to FBI facilities in the US, while FBI personnel make reciprocal visits to China. Communication between the two parties even takes place almost daily.
The cooperation is said to have produced joint operations. One of them is Operation Sand Dollar, which involved the FBI, China’s Ministry of Public Security, and Dubai police to dismantle a cyber fraud centre.
The operation is claimed to have resulted in around 300 arrests and the seizure of assets worth around US$300 million. The operation also succeeded in freeing thousands of workers who were victims of human trafficking.
A similar approach is also said to be under construction with Russia. Patel is reportedly preparing a visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg planned for mid-October.
Russia’s security agency, the FSB, is expected to be the party receiving the visit. If realised, the visit would be a rare step.
The last FBI director known to have visited Russia was Robert Mueller in 2013. Contact between the FBI and Russia has been taking place on a more limited basis for more than a year, especially to deal with criminal networks.
This move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is also seeking to reduce tensions with Moscow. Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have made several visits to Russia and met President Vladimir Putin.
The cooperation does not mean the US is ending its strategic competition with China or Russia. At least that is what non-resident researcher at the China-CEE Institute and expert at the Valdai Discussion Club, Ladislav Zemanek, said.
As published by RT on Wednesday (12/8/2026), he assessed that Patel’s approach shows a shift from geopolitical competition towards pragmatic cooperation. However, FBI cooperation is only aimed at specific areas, such as cybercrime, narcotics, human trafficking, and transnational criminal networks.
In the defence sector, Pentagon officials are also said to have begun pushing for the reopening of communication channels with Beijing. Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby is said to be interested in visiting China and reviving professional military-to-military relations.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is also pushing for the restoration of US-China military communications and crisis hotlines. The approach is considered aimed at preventing small incidents, especially at sea and in the air, from developing into larger conflicts.
According to Zemanek, the pattern that is beginning to emerge is “cooperate when interests meet and continue to compete when interests differ”. FBI cooperation with China and Russia will not immediately resolve disputes over Iran, Taiwan, Ukraine, or technological competition.
“However, this approach shows that competing countries can still work together to face common threats,” said Zemanek.